ENGLISH 1101: COMPOSITION I                
         ARMSTRONG ATLANTIC STATE UNIVERSITY                          

      
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          Professional E-mail Tips
       
Sending e-mails in the professional world (and that includes the world of the university) is not quite the same as sending casual e-mails to friends and family members.  Keep these tips in mind:  

- Never send an e-mail with a blank (or vague) subject line.
- Put the key message in your subject line. 
- As a general rule, make your main point in your first sentence.
- Address the recipient by name (and, if appropriate, by title).  
- Keep messages brief: if the reader has to scroll, the message is generally too long. 
- Keep paragraphs short: if you must write more than one paragraph, use the National Enquirer (not a Jane Austen novel) as a guide to paragraph length.
- Attach long messages—but make sure that your e-mail message explains clearly what the attachment is and why the reader should want to open it.  
- Never use ALL CAPS (the e-mail equivalent of shouting).
- Proofread your message before sending it. 
- Discuss only one issue per message.  People frequently forget about all but the first or last point.
- When asking more than one question, number your questions.
- Use “please” and “thank you.”  Following this advice from childhood in our e-mails can help to maintain a tone that is both friendly and professional.
- Include your name at the end of your e-mail.
- Don’t encourage needless correspondence.  Answer all questions, use polite, formal language, and end messages with "no reply needed" to discourage additional responses.
- Respond quickly--within the same working day if possible.
- But never send an e-mail when you're angry.
        

English 1101 is taught by Dr. Richard Nordquist.
Armstrong Atlantic State University
Savannah, Georgia 31419

e-mail: fumnx@netzero.net

   
    07 September 2005